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Imbas Liturgy

by Erika Brown

1. Cleansing and Beginning

A. Approaching Processional (Bodhran rhythm)

B. Outdwellers (Facing west; Place coin at designated location outside of Nemeton)

Primal Dark Ones who defied our Gods and Goddesses
We give you this tithe and establish the boundary
Enter not this Nemeton, for this is holy ground

We likewise banish from ourselves
That which troubles us in our deepest heart
No pain, no fear, no doubt
Shall enter this Nemeton, for this is holy ground

Attendees: This is holy ground!

C. Sidhe (Beans, corn kernels or cornmeal scattered about the edge of the Nemeton)

Spirits of the sidhe in-dwelling this place
We seek your blessing and your grace
Kindred of the sidhe within this land
We honor your presence as together we stand

We claim use of this sacred space, for our holy purpose
Sidhe-folk, accept our offering

Attendees: Sidhe-folk accept our offering

D. Entering the Nemeton (Enter from the East; Censer and asperse attendees as entering Nemeton, saying:)

May you be cleansed by Fire, purified by Water and fit to come before the Holy Ones
Attendees: Fire purify me and water cleanse me, that I be fit to come before the Holy Ones

E. Quickening the Fire (Light the Fire and upraise arms in a swooshing motion as flames leap forth)

Fires of Creation come forth within us, within our Nemeton! We burn for your illuminating flames.

Attendees: We burn for your illuminating flames!

F. Awakening the Well (Uncover the Well and stir the water x3, dropping in a hazelnut each time)

Well of Wisdom flow within us, within our Nemeton! We thirst for your stirring waters.

Attendees: We thirst for your stirring waters.

2. Establishing Group Mind

Claiming (once the Nemeton is full, 3 knells then)

1. The Crossing

We have crossed the bridge
We stand within the realm of the holy
A numinous place, between the worlds
Beyond the fires of the hearth
To the wood, the Nemeton
The Sacred Grove in which we gather
To give praise, give offering
And worship here with our kindred
Listen to them, folk of the earth
Hear them in birdcall around you
In the breath of wind upon you
Fire in the head within you
Reach out your spirit and open yourselves to trust
Feel the River of Life flowing within you
Within this place between the worlds

(3 knells)

2. Song of Creation

In the beginning, there was no beginning
The Great Womb always was
Into this the Cosmic Seed of Consciousness was drawn
And life burst forth, creating the worlds
In its youth, water covered the earth
And bodiless beings inhabited the mists
From the depths arose land and fire
And Danu was born from chaos
Spirits of land, sea and sky collided
Carving the face of the world
River-Mother trickled, then began to flow
Great rivers sprang forth, nourishing the land
Valleys and mountains came into being
Lakes were pooled and unto this fertile world
Sun-Father Daghda greeted the land with warmth and light
Creatures and green things were born
Bile the Sacred Oak grew strong, giving shade and the first fruits
From this ancient world the Shining Ones came
The Magic People, Tribe of Danu
Battling the Dark Ones, races of giants
Primal Ones from the earth’s beginnings
Clearing and cultivating, creating sacred landscape
And it came to pass that we, the Folk, were born
Inheriting the land of light from the Magic Ones
Who entered the earth, living beside us
Thus the three sacred realms
Land above, land between, land below
Until the living sun shall fall from the sky

3. Establishing Sacred Center

A. Bile, Stone and Mound

In the navel of the world, we worship